For the first time in my life I have been motivated to exercise because my body is feeling OLD!
I take great care of my insides through outstanding nutrition but I am finally admitting- I have greatly ignored my physical health. I have had many flings with exercise since my cancer diagnosis, but have always had a reason (excuse) to stop. This year I am determined and COMMITTED to developing life-long fitness habits. EXCUSES are not welcome!
A Fitness Mirage
One of my problems is that- in my mind I still look like I did when I was 22. Then I look in the mirror and…well, it doesn’t lie.
My exercise history isn’t awful, but it lacks consistency. I worked out in college because I was bored- and to meet guys at the campus gym. Ha! I actually put on make-up to work out. After graduating I was into long-distance running, but after training for two half-marathons, I have lost my enthusiasm, not to mention long runs are time consuming!
I have had every excuse not to exercise since my cancer diagnosis in 2008. At that time my husband and I were in the process of completing the popular infomercial workout program, P-90X. We had completed Day 45 of the 90 days fitness challenge the day before I went in for my biopsy surgery. Then life changed drastically and exercise got lost in the cancer wilderness.
Now I am a wife, mother to a 2-year-old, make all meals from whole-foods, have a full-time teaching job, and write Green Drink Diaries. I also play in a community orchestra and am in a couples’ “small group” with my church once a week. Can I really add more to my plate? YES- but I also have to make sacrifices somewhere to find time to exercise.
My Exercise Commitments for 2012:
1. I will workout 6 days a week in the months of January and February. On average, a habit takes 4 weeks to break- but I don’t trust my laziness. I will give myself 8 weeks. I will rest on Sundays.
2. I will focus on physical exertion and positive fitness habits, NOT on weight loss, how much time I work out, or how I look.
3. Sacrifices: I MUST be home by 5:00 to start dinner. I am taking two months off from orchestra to focus on my fitness goals. My daughter must be in bed by 8:30pm so I can get started by 8:45. I will keep Green Drink Diaries’ to one focused post per week.
4. My fitness routine will consist of short interval training with my husband and Holy Yoga, a form of Christ-based Yoga (will definitely post on this later!)
5. I will post my progress publicly on a Green Drink Diaries’ monthly “Commitments Roll-Call!” post!
Find Your Exercise Style!
One thing I have learned about myself is that I enjoy working out at home. It works for me. I work outside of the home all day and can’t fathom putting my daughter in daycare again to go workout at a crowded gym. So working out at home it is.
You need to figure out what will work for you. Will you stay motivated if you work out at home?
Do you enjoy “getting out” and being in a large fitness crowd?
Do other buff people motivate you?
Does a fitness class such as Zumba, BodyPump, or Spin sound fun and appealing to you? Will you get bored easily from any of those? Many gyms have trials before you commit so you could give them a try or check out their websites.
Over the next few days, spend a few minutes alone with this blog post and let this all sink in. What would you want to commit to if you had the time? What sacrifices could you make? What is the ideal vision for your bodily fitness if you could attain it?
Write your commitments down and let them simmer. then, when you’re ready, make them public in the Comments section of this post!!
Other suggestions to motivate you:
Find a fitness partner.
Buy new workout gear.
Donate the clothes that you are hiding behind and save up for some new clothes in a smaller size!
Make a sticker incentive chart to keep where you can see it.
Keep an exercise journal.
Reward yourself with an end-of-the week reward.
Exercise could be as simple as walking for 30 minutes with your favorite music or playing a dance game on a Wii or X-Box Kinect.
Other Physical Commitments that are not Fitness Related:
See a chiropractor regularly.
Find a good naturopathic doctor to see for preventative care.
Clear out and organize space in your home.
Try Natural Eye Reversal Therapies. This is another Commitment for me this year! I will certainly blog about my progress!
Working to stop negative physical habits such as biting nails, cuticles, SMOKING, etc.
Join us tomorrow to make our Nutritional Commitments!
I’ve followed this blog for several months, but think this is my first time commenting. I got a rebounder for Christmas and know you have one as well. What do you think about that being a main form of exercise?
Hi Renae!
Absolutely! And it’s FUN. I plan on using it in my exercise alternation. Currently, I jump on it for a few minutes everyday to get my lymph moving. Did you see this post on rebounding for health? https://www.anticancermom.com/detox-jump-around/. Check out these videos on YouTube as well: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rebounding+workout&oq=rebounding+&aq=2&aqi=g10&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=5783l7587l0l10816l11l9l0l2l2l0l164l914l1.6l7l0
Oh I am so on the same page as you (maybe because my daughter is the exact same time as yours, toddlers are a challenge!) I also have a 6 year old daughter) and I too am not willing to leave my home to exercise.
I used to do 5 Factor Fitness at home to lose the weight from having my babies……unfortunately I never made exercise a lifestyle which I NEED to do. I have heard raves about Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred so my plan is to try that……I must do this!
I LOVE JM’s 30 Day Shred! I should have put that in my post! For those reading this: Jillian Michael’s 30 Day shred lives up to the hype and would be great in your fitness rotation!
I am wondering what the Chick-fil-a challenge is?? Can’t wait to hear about the Holy Yoga!! It is so wonderful that we can have accountability with one another. I have so often read that makes a big difference in keeping true to goals and commitments.
I love to run, but I struggle with consistency in the winter! Last year I started stocking up on winter running clothes so I’d be more motivated to get out there, but even so, when the temps start dropping below 45, I talk myself out of it.
So, now that I have accountability, my goal is to run 30 min. 3x’s a week in January and February. Also, I did the Chick-fil-a Challenge this past fall and they said my flexibility was really poor! I’d love to do some sort of stretching routine 2-3 times a week, or even purchasing the Holy Yoga you’ve been talking about! Maybe we could coordinate doing it once a week together?! Love this stuff…
I’ve still got my brainstorm list of ideas for my commitments. I’m not ready to make them public yet. I’m going to post them when I make the decision. I LOVE THIS! Thanks, Cort!
Thank you so very much for having this avenue of accountability for our commitments. This past year, I have done really well with aerobics but have not been consistent with strength training. Since I was recently diagnosed with the beginning stages of osteoporosis (most likely due to the 4 months of chemo I took over 20 years ago which subsequently put me into early menopause), it is important for me to make this a regular part of my fitness routine. Soooooo, I look forward to reporting each week that I have had at least 2 sessions of strength training. I might divide it up into 4, two upper and two lower body workouts. I believe I will have to get up a bit earlier in order to incorporate this into my regimen. Have a blessed day and Happy New Year!!